Bowing & Contact
Sounding point Choosing the bow’s contact lane between bridge and fingerboard.
Common phrases: contact point · sound point
6 reviewed clips
Use when the player is finding a contact point where the bow works without extra effort
Teaching summary The clue says the pinky may come off from relaxation, then shifts to putting the bow down at the right contact point. The main task is contact point and relaxed bow placement. Transcript context
Then my pinky sometimes kind of comes off just because it's so relaxed, I mean my fingers can just do this. When you put your bow down, there is a contact point, and if you do it at the right contact point, just wherever your bow is, you should be able
Use when the player is using flatter bow hair as a helper for sound and control
Teaching summary The clue says putting the bow hair flat against the string helps. Frame the task as bow contact setup rather than shifting. Transcript context
Another thing that helps me anyway is putting my bow hair flat against the string.
Use when the player’s tone is harsh, thin, or unstable
Teaching summary Choose a contact lane that lets the string ring before adding more pressure. Coordinate contact point with bow speed and arm weight instead of treating it as an isolated location. Transcript context
shoulder down and just use your forearm and your elbow. What that does is it actually ends up making your bow angle this way. See how it's tilted this way just a little bit? So it starts off. This establishes another thing for you. It keeps your contact point with the string at the exact same spot on the bow. You see this? It's staying at the exact same spot all the way up.
Use when the player is explaining how bow contact adds weight to the string
Teaching summary The clue says contacting the string with the bow adds weight. Frame this as bow contact and arm weight rather than shifting. Transcript context
Now when you contact the string with your bow, there are a few things that happen. One is your bow is adding weight to the string.
Use when the player is adding a small amount of pinky counterbalance to remove unwanted bow noise
Teaching summary The clue says the pinky adds a little counterbalance weight and that this should remove unwanted sounds. Use the right-hand pinky for bow balance. Transcript context
My pinky's just adding just a little bit of counterbalance weight. That should get rid of a lot of those unwanted sounds.
Use when the player is using the pinky to counterbalance bow weight near the frog
Teaching summary The clue says the pinky helps counterbalance weight at the frog so the bow does not scratch. Treat the pinky as right-hand balance, not left-hand fourth finger. Transcript context
There are certain areas where at the frog, for instance, you need your pinky to help counterbalance the weight so that it doesn't scratch, and there's also spots at, for instance